Fountain pen



Feb. 25, 1947. s. RQsENTHl.

Fonmm Hm Filed Feb. 4. 1944 y 'INVENTQKJ )1 I Patented Feb. 25, 1947 7 Claims. (Cl. 15-134) My invention relates to fountain pens and more particularly to fountain pens utilizing a piece of felt or a similar material as a nib. Pens of this type are used when it is desired to make broad lines as in printing or writing upon packing cases, printing placards or the like.

Such pens are provided with an ink reservoir into which extends the felt nib, ink being fed from the reservoir through the nib by capillary action. Heretoforedimculty has been experienced in preventing leakage of ink through the felt, particularly when Vthe pen is subjected to an increase in temperature or a decrease in atmospheric pressure. Among the objects of the present invention is to provide means for substantially preventing such leakage. Further objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings which forrn a. part of this specification an on which Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a pen embodying my invention; and

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the pen shown in Fig. 1 but with the cap removed.

Referring to the drawings, reference character I designates a barrel made of hard rubber, Bakelite or other suitable material. The barrel is .preferably provided with a glass lining I2, forming a reservoir for ink and assisting in insulating the contentsiof the reservoir from the heat of the hand, It is desirable to place a cushion in the form of a felt or cotton disc I3 between the bottom of the barrel and the closed end of the glass lining in order to avoid breakage of the latter in case the pen is dropped accidentally. At the open end the barrel is provided with internal screw threads I4 and external screw threads I6. A nib holder I8 is provided With threads which engage the internal threads I4 on the barrel and a suitable felt packing or washer is arranged to be compressed between the inner end of the holder and the open end of the lining I2. Thus, the glass lining is clamped between resilient cushions at both ends.

The nib holder I8 is provided 'with a central bore in which `is located a felt nib 22. This nib extends beyond both ends of the holder. 'I'he reservoir is iilled with an absorbent material 24, which is preferably felt of the same kind as that forming the nib and the washer 20. The absorbent material 24 extends all the way to the open end of the reservoir and presses against the felt washer 20. This washer is formed with an aperture having a smaller diameter than the nib.

Ihe inner end of the latter is preferably cut at an angle, as shown in Fig. 1, so that when the nib holder is screwed into place, this end `is squeezed at least partially into the aperture and ciently so that good contact no longer exists be tween the material and the nib. l

`It is desirable to form the absorbent material 24 with a longitudinally extending space 25, the upper end of winch is closed by the washer 20. This provides a. space within which air may expand upon an increase in temperature or a. clearance in atmospheric pressure without forcing ink into the nib. The fact that the upper end of the space 25 is closed by the washer 20 prevents unabsorbed ink, which might collect in the space if an excessive amount of ink were placed in the reservoir, from being fed freely to the nib when the pen is held in-writing position.

Reference character 26 designates a cap provided with internal threads which are adapted to engage the 'external threads I6 on the open end of the barrel. 'I'he cap may be provided with the usual pocket clip 28. Within the cap there is fixed an absorbent member 30 preferably made of felt, which is provided with a bore 32 into which extends a portion of the nib holder I8 and of the nib 22, the felt closely embracing the nib holder, but being spaced out of contact with the nib itself.

In order to ll the pen, both the cap 26 and the nib holder I8 are unscrewed from the barrel. Thereupon, ink is introduced into the open end of the latter, preferably by using a medicine dropper. 'I'he ink is absorbed by the felt filler 24 and sufficient ink may be introduced to saturate this ller. However, due togthe fact that the ller substantially completely illls the reservoir, there is little or no loose ink present therein. When the nib holder is screwed in place, the ink is fed by capillary action from the material 24 directly to that portion of the nib Within the aperture in the washer 20, and also to the nib through the felt washer and is always present at the exposed end of the nib and may be wiped therefrom onto any suitable surface'as the pen is used.

When not in use, the cap 26 is screwed in place 3 andthe felt member 30 therein absorbs any ink which leaves the nib.

Under ordinary conditions little or no ink tends to leave the nib when the pen is not being used. However, an increase in temperature causes the ink and air in the reservoir to expand and consequently there is a tendency for ink to be forced through the nib. Likewise a decrease in atmospheric pressure tends to cause ilow of ink from within the reservoir through the nib. However,- this tendency for leakage is `greatly reduced by the felt ller 24 and the provision of the air space 25. 'I'he latter provides room for expansion, while any ink which is Aforced out is absorbed by the felt 3D in the cap. It will be noted that this felt has sulcient volume so that it does not merely serve as a packing to prevent leakage of ink past the nib holder, but is able to absorb and retain a substantial quantity of ink. The ink used in this type of pen is` `extremely volatile and consequently when the cap is removed during use of the pen; ink which has been absorbed by the felt'30 is able to evaporate rapidly. This reconditions the felt 30 and prevents it from remaining saturated with ink. Consequently, when the cap is again -placed on `the pen, the felt therein is able to absorb more 1ink if the conditions are such that ink is forced ,through the nib.

Due tn the fact that the felt 30 does not contact the nib 22, there is notendency for ink to be drawn by capillary action from the nib into `th,e felt 30. However, if changes in temperature 1or atmospheric pressure cause ink to be forced out through the nib, the ink cannot escape from `the cap, but when leaving the nib will come into contact with some part of the felt 30 and will diiuse by capillary action throughout the entire mass of this felt.

While I have shown and described one more or less specic embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that this has been done for the Ipurpose of illustration only and that the scope of my invention is not to be limited thereto. but

`is to be determined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is: 1. In a fountain pen, a barrel forming an ink reservoir, a nib made of absorbent material and "having a reduced end, means for securing said nib to said barrel with said end thereof extending into said reservoir, a ller of absorbent material `substantially completely filling said reservoir and `contacting said end of the nib, and means contacting the filler and said end having a bore incompletely filled by and through which said end extends.

2. In a fountain pen, a barrel forming an ink ,reservoir open at one end, a nib holder having a bore communicating with the open end of said 3. Inmal fountain pen, a barrel having an element therein forming an impervious liner forming an ink reservoir, a nib made of absorbent material, means for securing said nib to said barrel with one end thereof extending into said reservoir,

diameter slightly less than that of said end of the nib holder, said member being so located that said end is squeezed through said opening, and a filler of absorbent material substantially completely filling said liner reservoir and contacting said absorbent nib.

4. A device as set forthin claim 3 in which removable cushioning members are positioned at opposite ends of the said liner within the barrel.

5. In a fountain pen, a barrel, absorbent material in said barrel having a longitudinally extending space, absorbent means at the entrance to said barrel disposed across said space, said absorbent means being in capillary relation with said material vand having an opening disaligned with said space, a nib holder on the barrel, Vand a nib carried by said holder having a reduced inner end projecting into said opening and contacting the said material and said absorbent means. y

6. A fountain pen comprising a barrel open at one end, a liner in said barrel made of a material different therefrom, said liner having an open end constituting an ink reservoir, the open end of said liner being disposed adjacent to the open end of said barrel, a nib holder secured to the open end of said barrel and having a bore communicating with the open end of said liner, a felt nib secured in said bore and vhaving a reduced end projecting inwards from said bore and an outer end projecting outwards therefrom, an absorbent filler substantially iilling said linerand having a face at its outer end for contacting the inner end of said nib, and means for retaining said nib holder and liner in' place with the inner end of said nib in partial contact with said ller.

7. A fountain pen comprising a barrel open at one end constituting an ink reservoir, a nib holder secured to the open end of said barrel and having a bore communicating therewith, a felt nib secured in said bore and having a reduced end projecting inwards from said bore and an outer end projecting outwards therefrom, an absorbent ller substantially lling said reservoir, and having a face at its outer end for contacting the inner end of said nib, and means for retaining said nib holder in place with the inner end of said nib in contact with said filler non-rigidly, the inner end of said nib being angular and sufficiently flexible to bend where pressed against said 1111er.

' SIDNEY ROSENTHAL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent: I

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 596,951 Wiehl Jan. 4, 1898 2,097,496 Lunzer Nov. 2, 1937 '134,116` Blair July 21, 1903 2,267,075 Brown Dec. 23, 1941 1,786,723 Stein Dec. 30, 1930 2,140,009 Hand Dec. 13, v1938 Everett June 12, 1923 

